Milk-can



(No Model.)

E. A'. KAESTNER.

MILK GAN.

Patented Oct. 9,1894.

.271 Z/e royal" 'iin' mmm l NITED STATES y PATENT Garros..

ERNEST A. KAESTNER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MILK-CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,245, dated October 9, 1894. Application iiled March 14, 1 894. Serial No. 503,630. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom t may cow/cern:n

Be itknown that I,- ERNnsr A. KAESTNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have in- 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements in Milk-Cans; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en-able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in milk cans, and it is designed more particularly as an improvement upon the can disclosed in my Letters Patent, No. 4:58AM, of August 25, 1891, which can comprises a top having a vertical groove in its depending flange, and a hole in the upper end of said groove, a body having a vertical groovein the outer side of its neck and a corresponding rib on the inner side and also having a hole in the upper end of the groove, and a spring catch soldered in the lower end of the groove of the neck and having its upper angular end adapted to enter the holes in the neck and the flange of the cover so as to lock the cover ln'position. This construction, while it admits of a secure fastening of the cover, is open to objections for two reasons, first, because it is necessary in order to lock the cover, to bring the groove in the flange of the same into alignment with the rib of the neck whlch consumes time, and secondly, because the spring catch being simply soldered in the groove of the neck, is liable to break oi after slight use. To remedy these objections and provide a can in which the top may be locked bysimply inserting it in the neck without adgustment, and one in which the catch is so fastened that it is not likely to break off, is one of the objects of my present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide acover embodying such a constructlon that an exceedingly strong connection of the ange to the same may be 'eiected With the foregoing ends in view the invention will be fully understood from the following descriptionand claims when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a detail perspective view of a can embodying my invention, with the cover in a raised position. Fig. 2, is a diametrical section of the same with the cover in its locked position, and Fig. 3, is an enlarged, detail, diametrical section illustrating the cover in its locked position and the positions of the spring catch in full and dotted lines.

Referring by letter to said drawings:-A, indicates the neck of a milk can which is similar to those at present in use with the exception that it is provided with an aperture as a.

B, indicates the cover having a' depending flange C, adapted to take within the neck A, and D, indicates the spring catch which is secured upon the outside of the neck A, as presently described, and has its free portion bent at an angle as shown so as to enable it to pass through the aperture a, of the neck and engage the groove E, of the cover flange in order to securely lock the cover in position. The said groove E, of the cover flange C, is preferably formed by depressing the material of the iiange, as shown, and it preferably has the abrupt wall c, for the engagement of the spring catch and extends entirely around the flange as shown, whereby it will be seen that it is not necessary, in order to lock the cover, to adj ust the same, since when any portion of the groove comes opposite the aperture a, the spring catch will fly into the groove and securely lock the cover against casual removal or displacement. The cir cumferential groove E, is further advantageous for the reason that it permits of the collar flange being turned in the neck and consequently obviates the imposition of lateral strain on the spring catch when the handle of the cover is grasped in the handling of the can. 4

It is necessary, intorder to place and lock the cover iiange in the neck A, to move the free end of the catch D, outwardly and hold it with a key or the like in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, so as to enable the cover ange to pass the same. This movement of the spring catch is also necessary to a disengagement of the cover flange audit is therefore desirable to connect the spring catch to the neck A, in the strongest manner, in order to prevent the same from breaking off after the can has been in use for a short time. To the attainment of this end, I solder the lower end of the catch to the neck, as shown at d, and reinforce such connection by IOO the casting or reinforce piece F, which may be connected to the neck by solder or in any other suitable manner. The said casting F, has the inner side of its lower portion recessed to seat the lower portion of the catch as shown at e, and is provided with the longitudinal slot f, to admit of'outward play of the catch and the loop g, designed to limit the outward movement of the catch and thereby obviate unnecessary strain on the connecf tion thereof.

As better shown in Fig. 3, of the drawings the cover B, is provided in addition to the ordinary depending flange h, with a shoulder fi, Which rests Within the circle of the cover as shown. This shoulder i, serves to hold and reinforce the bed of solder j, by which the depending flange C, is` connected to the cover and consequently it will be seen that the said connection While exceedingly cheap, is very strong and durable which isa desideratum.

It `will be seen from the foregoing that While very cheap and simple, my improvements are very ystrong and durable and that they enable a person to readily and securely lock a cover upon a can. Ityvill also `be seen that my improvements may be conveniently placed upon cans at present inuse; it being simply necessary to groove the (lange of the cover, puncture the neck and x the spring catch in position in the manner described.

I have in some respects specifically described the construction and relati vearrangement of the several parts of my improved can in order to impart a full, clear, and exact construction of the same, but I do not desire to be understood as confining myself to such specific construction and arrangement as such changes or modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

I am Well aware that it is .old to provide the neck of a milk can Witha series of corrugations and a cover with a catch adapted to engage the corrugations sofas to lock the cover in its closed position, and I therefore make no claim to such construction but What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a can or vessel cover or top having a groove or seat in its depending flange, a can or vessel adapted to receive the flange of the cover or top and having an aperture o., a spring catch connected at one end to the can or vessel and having an angular branch adapted to take through the aperture et, of the. same and into .thegroove or seat of the cover `flange, and afreinforce piece F, connected to the can or vessel over the spring catch and having a slot to permit play of the catch, substantially as specified.

2. A can or vessel cover or top comprising a cover ortop proper having ashoulderas i, a bed of solder j, arranged ,against and reinforced by said shoulder t', and a flange C, seated in the said bed of solder and connected by the same to the cover ortop proper, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with a can or vessel having an aperture a, and aspring catchconnected at one end to the can and having van angular portion adapted to take through `,the aperture a, and engage a cover or top; ofa reinforce piece connected to thecanover the spring catch and having a Yslot f, topermit play of said catch, substantiallyfasspecited.

In testimony Whereot'I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ERNEST A. KAESTNER.

Witnesses:

LL. PENTZ, R. L. SHREEVE. 

